By

Wendy Stoltz / Last Modified On August 18, 2025

These peanut butter bars are going to be your next obsession. It has the best of both worlds, peanut butter and chocolate. No more tasteless lunchbox snacks. Just rich, sweet, delicious morsels that melt when they touch your tongue.

The Best Peanut Butter Bars

So, it is hard to say goodbye to a summer holiday, but getting my children ready for the next term involves having a few healthy-ish yummy treats in their lunchboxes so they have a little bit of home with them.

I love these gluten-free peanut butter bars as they have no nasties and I know exactly what I have put in them. The hardest part is fending them off from eating the entire tray before they even have a chance to be placed in their lunchboxes. So, be part of the gluten-free lunchbox revolution!

If you are looking for more snacks for lunchboxes, then try these Gluten-Free Rice Krispies Treats. The kids adore having their unique gluten-free snacks. You can also check out some of our Best Gluten-Free Snacks for Kids when we are low on time.

Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Bars

Easy to make - This recipe is really easy to make; you can even let your children get in on the fun.

No oven needed - Your stove and microwave do a little bit of the heavy lifting. So no need to turn the oven on a scorching day.

Perfect snack - When the school term starts, I like to stock up on a few snacks so between drop-offs and pickups, between sports and everything else, they have a quick grab-and-go snack. They even make a great dessert. My daughter likes warm bars, so she places them in the microwave for a couple of seconds.

Ingredients For Our Peanut Butter Bars Recipe

With just 7 simple ingredients that you probably have in your pantry, let's get started with this bar recipe.

• Vegetable oil - The oil is used to bind the peanut butter mixture. Use an oil that doesn't have a stronger flavor. It is also used when melting the chocolate chips. Again, use a neutral flavor.
• Peanut butter - We've used our favorite smooth peanut butter brand, but is peanut butter gluten-free? It's mostly yes. You can use crunchy peanut butter. I also use unsweetened as we like it less sweet. You can substitute another type of nut butter if catering for specific allergies, like almond butter.
• Powdered sugar - Adds a bit of sweetness to the peanut butter layer.
• Almond flour - This flour is used for its nutty flavor.
• Chocolate chips - You can also use dairy-free chocolate chips
• Fine sea salt - Sprinkled on top, it helps to balance out the sweetness.

Equipment Needed

You'll need a small pan to toast the almond flour. Mixing bowls and a microwave-safe bowl to use in the microwave.

A 6x6-inch baking dish lined with parchment paper to place the bar mixture in. A sharp knife to slice the bars.

How to Make Peanut Butter Bars

This recipe is perfect for your snack attack, and it is such a quick recipe to make.

Prepare the flour and peanut butter mixture

Place almond flour in a small pan over medium-low heat. Stir for 3-5 minutes, until it smells nutty and turns golden. Let it cool completely before using.

In a medium bowl, add almond flour, peanut butter, sugar, and oil to a bowl.

Mix And Press

Mix almond flour, peanut butter, sugar, and oil. Press mixture into a 6x6-inch dish lined with parchment paper.

Prepare the chocolate and add

Pour chocolate chips and oil into a microwave-safe dish and microwave on 30-second increments until chips are melted. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the peanut butter base.

Freeze, slice, and serve

Place in the freezer for 1 hour, then sprinkle with salt, cut, and serve.

Tips For Making These No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

I've added a few tips for success.

• Use the correct chocolate - Choose good quality chocolate chips or bars with a cocoa content of around 60–70%. Avoid compound chocolate with added vegetable fats, as it won’t melt as smoothly or have the same glossy finish.
• Cool the almond flour - Cool it so that it does not melt the peanut butter.
• Press the peanut mixture base firmly into the dish - You don't need to use a lot of force and flatten it, it will make the bars too dense.
• Slice with a hot knife - If I am making these for a gift or special occasion, I heat the knife in boiling water and then dry it off and get perfect slices.
• Add salt after freezing - The salt may dissolve into the chocolate. So add it once you have frozen it and are serving the bars.
• Use a spatula - Smooth over the peanut butter mixture and chocolate so you have an even layer.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've gathered some of the most common questions, but feel free to comment below.

How Long Do These Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Bars Last?

They keep well in the refrigerator for up to one week. I like to place it in an airtight container.

Can I Freeze These Bars?

Yes, I usually make a double batch. You can freeze them for up to 2 months in aluminum foil or a freezer-safe container. I like to thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and then pop them into the lunchboxes. They come to room temperature by the time they have a snack break.

Continue to Content

Yield: 12 bars

Peanut Butter Bars Recipe

Print

Thick, fudgy peanut butter filling topped with a smooth chocolate shell topping. This no-bake peanut butter bars recipe is a decadent delight. Gluten-free and delightfully simple, they're a favorite for kids (and adults)!

Prep Time 35 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 3 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 cup chocolate chips or dairy free chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• ¼ tsp fine sea salt

Instructions

1. Place almond flour in a small pan over medium-low heat. Stir for 3-5 minutes, until it smells nutty and turns golden. Let it cool completely before using.
2. In a medium bowl, mix almond flour, peanut butter, sugar, and oil. 
3. Press mixture into a 6x6-inch dish lined with parchment paper.
4. Pour chocolate chips and oil into a microwave-safe dish and microwave on 30-second increments until chips are melted.
5. Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the peanut butter base.
6. Place in the freezer for one hour, then sprinkle salt and cut, and serve.

Notes

• Use the correct chocolate - Choose good quality chocolate chips or bars with a cocoa content of around 60–70%. Avoid compound chocolate with added vegetable fats, as it won’t melt as smoothly or have the same glossy finish.
• Cool the almond flour - Cool it so that it does not melt the peanut butter.
• Press the peanut mixture base firmly into the dish - You don't need to use a lot of force and flatten it, it will make the bars too dense.
• Slice with a hot knife - If I am making these for a gift or special occasion, I heat the knife in boiling water and then dry it off and get perfect slices.
• Add salt after freezing - The salt may dissolve into the chocolate. So add it once you have frozen it and are serving the bars.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. They never cost you extra.

• 
  ChefAide Silicone Spatula Set
• 
  Mini 6x6 Square Glass Baking Dish
• 
  Nonstick Frying Pan
• 
  Pyrex Smart Essentials 3-Piece Prepware Mixing Bowl Set

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 295Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 153mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 3gSugar: 14gProtein: 7g

This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands used at the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.

If you make this gluten-free peanut butter bars recipe, please consider stopping by and letting me know what you think.